Lizonka, the adopted daughter of the industrialist Elagin, wants nothing more than to take possession of the young prince Alexei Izmailov, her sister’s fiancé, especially since her heart is given to another. Two young mischievous girls arrange a secret wedding for Elizabeth and Alexei. And then a family secret is revealed to the young people: they are brother and sister, happiness is impossible between them. Fleeing from the family curse of the Izmailovs, Elizabeth runs wherever her eyes take her, and unmerciful fate does not spare her dangerous adventures: the passion of a robber ataman, kidnapping by the Kalmyk king Elbek, slavery, the harem of the Crimean Khan Giray - and a new, truly fatal meeting with Alexei on board a Turkish galley ... Will Elizabeth overcome the vicissitudes of her evil fate? Will he overcome his violent passion?

Published in 2000. Subsequently, the novel was republished under the title “Wedding with someone else’s groom.”